OK - we all know you should have baked and had your Christmas cakes and puddings resting by now? At least for a few weeks? Meantime - this is for the hapless and for those who won't die from fussiness nor lack of absolute Epicurean delight. My lovely Mumsnet if the best place for other help and recipes but here is mine
Save some fruit NOW. Mixed dried fruits, save some aside.
Emergency Christmas Pudding/Cake
Dried fruit (let's say) 4 - 8 cups (value brand is fine)
1 tsp Indian Cassia Bark, 1/3 tsp mixed spice, 1/3 tsp nutmeg
Grated zest of half an Italian lime, teaspoon Essex ginger (any)
1/2 cup Ocado/house/shop brandy
1/2 cup Ontario maple syrup/golden syrup (not for me the latter)
3 tblspns Molasses/brown sugar (phosphorus free if poss)
2 Tblspns table honey (Sainbury's is OK)
Himalayan Pink Salt (PINCH of any salt is OK)
1 cup British Unsalted butter
1-2 Bramley apples
4-6 Eggs depending on Breed /size/ (duck is good)
2 cups of flour of your choice - spelt is good
1.3 cup of Ground nuts, almond will do or select 1/2 cup of nut butter
1 Tablspoons Hot Chocolate powder
Chop it all, mix it up well and pour into your large saucepan, add a tablespoon of Somerset cider vinegar/Braggs (optional) and a cup of water.
Turn oven on to cake-heat
Bring saucepan mix to boil, then place lid on, allow to simmer on low heat (don't leave it unattended, keep stirring and checking) for approx 5-10 minutes
Grease and flour your tin, add gunk and bake on medium - ADD TO OVEN a large-ish bowl of water - place at bottom of oven. This helps stop it catching/drying out. Do not have oven on too high. This is a wet/puddingy cake/pud and not expected to be springy or bouncy. Bake for 1 and half to two hours (check it but it's fine as long as you love quality goo!)
